Youth suicides need urgent attention
Clinic Operations Manager Thoko Shozi said they have initiated a youth-friendly programme at the clinic to encourage young people to visit clinic
THE Mabamba Clinic committee has raised concerns over the high number of suicide deaths among the youth in the Ndabayakhe area.
Committee chairperson Madlakayise Shandu said parents, teachers and local clinic staff should work together to ensure that such incidents are prevented by becoming more involved with the children, especially when they notice those who appear to be under stress.
Shandu was speaking at the HIV/Aids awareness campaign held in ward 29 at Masakhane High School on Wednesday.
‘Four suicide incidents have been reported recently, and all the deceased were youth still at school.
‘Parents must play a meaningful role in the lives of their children, they can’t just rely on teachers to do the job.’
Shandu said the main purpose of the event was to speak to the youth about the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse, which leads to teenage pregnancy and HIV/Aids infection.
‘As schools are closed, I have noticed that most of our youth are now in and out of taverns where they do drugs and consume alcohol. We need to discourage this.’
Clinic Operations Manager Thoko Shozi said they have initiated a youth-friendly programme at the clinic to encourage young people to visit clinic.
‘We have introduced a happy hour on Friday as from 2pm, where young people from the age of 10 to 24 will be prioritised,’said Shozi.
Social worker Nonhlahla Dube urged parents to be supportive of their children.
‘People should stop throwing insults at their children, especially when they have failed at school or done something wrong.
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